First, if you're new to BB or you've never made modifications to your BB before then this may not be the procedure for you. However, if you're familiar with the BB and it's OS and have edited made modifications, such as for themes, then continue on.

If you're like me and you never use the VAD installed on all the new BB's you can remove it and free up over 1/2MB of memory on your device. Also, some have complained that their BT headset keeps activating the voice dialing menu when they don't want it to. There's no way to disable it on the device but it can be removed by removing all the modules associated with it.

Remove the following .cod's:

net_rim_vad.cod
net_rim_vad_resource.cod
net_rim_vad_resource__en.cod
net_rim_vad_engine_resource__en_US.cod (this is the big one that's over 1/2 a MB.)

If you have other languages installed you will have other vad.cod's installed that you'll want to remove.

You can do it with javaloader (if you know what you are doing) or you can remove it the same way you would any vendor themes you no longer want.

Install Desktop Manager to the PC. Get it here.
Install to the PC the OS package that matches what is installed on the handheld. Find your OS here.
Then go to the java folder for the OS and rename or remove all the net_rim_vad.... cod's

The java folder will be located here:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8320-v4.2.2.184_P2.5.0.40\Java
(note: your BB model and version number may differ from mine but will be located in the same place.)

In my case I simply renamed them like this: "REMnet_rim_vad..." but you can move them to another folder, or even delete them, if you like. You can always get them back again by running the OS installation package on your PC again. It's just easier to get them back if you don't delete them.

Then run Desktop Manager and Application Loader. Nothing will show as needing an update in the main window with the checkboxes. However, just finish the apploader and you will see that the vad cod's will be removed. The device will reboot and you'll have no more VAD.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility if this totally breaks your phone or if it blows up into a gazillion pieces after modifying in this manner.

Warning: Removing the VAD .cod's on 4.3 and newer OS devices will render the Options >About screen inoperative. Everything else seems to work fine except for this. You can still use alt + eace to get the same information.

Note Here's another good post about removing other items and optimizing your BB's memory. Click here.

^^WOW! If you had removed all your foreign languages you would not have so many "net_rim_vad..." files.

All the different language .cod's will still be in the java folder regardless of what's on the device. When I renamed all the .cod's it still only removed 4 .cods from my device. There was just over 1MB worth of .cod's there that were removed.

"Install to the PC the OS package that matches what is installed on the handheld.
Then go to the java folder for the OS and rename or remove all the net_rim_vad.... cod's"

I would like to remove the voice-dialing features...but these instructions are a little confusing...please advise. Thanks, Jim.

Edited the post. If you've not messed with the OS files before then this may not be the best thing to do right now. You might want to do some searching around. There are lots of threads about doing this with themes and this is really no different.

Another option is to blank out those lines in the blackberry.alx file.

That works too....However, I've started enabling everything to load in the .alx and then renaming a .cod to remove it. It just makes it a little easier to go back and then add them again, if desired. Just my $.02.

That works too....However, I've started enabling everything to load in the .alx and then renaming a .cod to remove it. It just makes it a little easier to go back and then add them again, if desired. Just my $.02.

Well..... I actually don't delete the lines. I add a pseudo vendor id to the fileset line so it's easy to find if I want it back.

Edit: I get the feeling that just removing the file from the folder is bad because the install is searching for that file, but can't find it. As it is, nothing bad happens, but you never know in the next version. A proper install program would actually fail in such an instance. Changing the lines changes the parameters of the install so it's no longer searching for those files.

I have always admired how well you support folks here... newbies and old hands alike. This is an excellent tip and should make it's way to the FAQ.

Well done sir!

One thing I am doing slightly different....

You are putting REM as part of the file name. I can understand that. Common way to remark comments in source code. In my case, I am slowly developing "Old Timer's Disease" and "CRS" Syndrome. With all the never versions of OS popping up, I sometimes can't remember what I changed in the last release. So I am using Zsav- as the prefix to all the files I don't want loaded. That puts all those files at the END of the directory listing where I can find them Lets me remember to get rid of the Sample video, sample pics, PTT and now Voice Dialing. And I'll be sure to remember them on the next rev too. Because even if I uninstall the last version before I install the latest rev... all those files are still there in the folder.